The Best Online Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering Programs

A civil engineering bachelor’s degree teaches students how to design society’s infrastructure. Graduates go on to start careers as civil or environmental engineers, technologists, or technicians. Civil engineering is one of the most important fields of engineering. But what is civil engineering?

Civil engineers design infrastructure: roads, bridges, dams, and other structures that enable energy production, transportation, and communications. Like all engineers, civil engineers need training and education. Consider earning an online civil engineering degree to launch your career as a civil engineer.

An online civil engineering degree covers:

Read on for a ranking of the best civil engineering programs from online colleges nationwide. You’ll also learn about what a civil engineering degree can offer you, from specializations to expected pay.

The school and/or program descriptions below were drafted using natural language generation technology and have been edited for clarity and accuracy. The data is primarily sourced from government databases such as IPEDS – see sources section for more details.

Civil engineering is a subfield of engineering concerned with societal infrastructure. Civil engineers design, build, and maintain roads, dams, bridges, and other structures that keep society running smoothly.

An online bachelor’s in civil engineering degree prepares learners for work as civil or environmental engineers. Students develop skills in project management, critical thinking, and teamwork as they study advanced topics in math, physics, and engineering. The degree typically takes full-time students four years to complete.

Online civil engineering programs often offer specialized degree concentrations such as geotechnical engineering, water resources engineering, and structural engineering. Make sure to choose the right engineering program to find the right concentration for your needs.

While online civil engineering degrees vary in terms of course offerings, specializations, and length, most programs share common characteristics. Coursework mixes practical and theoretical learning and is often divided between class time and on-site study. Students in this major frequently work in groups and employ simulation software to visualize engineering concepts.

Civil engineering majors study advanced mathematical topics like calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations. Civil engineering students also study advanced topics in physics, including fluid mechanics and mechanics of materials. Course loads for this major may be challenging.

When choosing an online civil engineering program, consider factors that can influence your online educational experience. Only give serious consideration to programs from schools you can reasonably afford. Determine if the degree’s length fits your timeline and if it features asynchronous or synchronous courses. Also be sure to check out programs’ available concentrations to see if their offerings meet your needs.

For civil engineering, attend a school accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). If you do not, you might not receive job offers or have the ability to earn necessary licensure.

Entry-level civil engineer work does not require licensure. However, civil engineering leadership roles in most states require professional engineer (PE) licensure from the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. PEs need a bachelor’s degree and four years of supervised experience under a PE before passing their PE exam.

State licensure requirements can vary. Some states, including New York and Florida, require PEs to take continuing education to renew their licenses every two years.

One of the advantages of earning a degree in civil engineering is its diverse applications to careers in other engineering fields. An online civil engineering degree can help you get a job not only as a civil engineer, but also as an environmental engineer.

Environmental engineers help solve environmental issues surrounding human structures. Like civil engineers, environmental engineers need knowledge of soil and fluid mechanics. Other technicians with civil engineering degrees (e.g., civil engineering technologists) also contribute to civil engineering projects.

Civil engineers typically work in the public sector for local and state governments, and for large construction firms. Though some civil engineering majors work in the military, most civil engineers work in non-military civil engineering projects. They typically begin their careers with internships that help them gain real world experience.

The data below summarizes typical earnings in this field. Annual civil and environmental engineering salaries range from $51,000-$92,000.

Yes. There are a variety of ABET-accredited online civil engineering degrees, from the associate to doctoral levels. These online degrees can prepare you for PE licensure and specializations in the discipline.

It can be. Civil engineers study advanced concepts in mathematics and physics in order to understand how structures can withstand environmental forces and how applied loads are built. These subjects can be challenging.

The BLS reports that the highest paid engineers are petroleum engineers, who earn a median annual wage of $128,230. Computer hardware engineers are not far behind, at $115,080.

Civil engineers need strong critical thinking skills to apply different mechanical concepts to complex systems and make sure that their designs are structurally sound. They also need strong math and written and verbal communication skills.